Dear Preston,
I love the show Bridezillas. With all the weddings you do, I’m sure you’ve had to deal with many crazy brides. Do you have any good “bridezilla” stories?
Sincerely,
Bridezilla Fan
Dear Fan,
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t think there’s much “reality” on reality TV shows. A friend of mine is an actor, and he told me that there are classes you can take to learn how to exaggerate your emotions specifically to appeal to reality TV producers and directors. After all, drama sells!
I’ve been in the wedding and event industry for over 30 years, and I can safely say that I’ve never seen a bride behave as poorly as some of the brides on TV. There are many, many wedding shows, and most of them are pretty unrealistic.
That being said, my friend David Tutera’s show, My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, is the exception; it always feels honest. In every episode David works his magic, creating beautiful designs and helping the bride make the choices that are right for her and her fiance.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I DO sometimes work with challenging brides. However, I understand that these clients are just anxious. All they want is a perfect wedding.
Truthfully, it makes me angry that brides, who are the backbone of my business and who allow me to do what I love for a living, are portrayed in such a nasty way on television. It’s not fair, and it’s not honest.
-PB
Readers, have you ever had to work with a so-called “bridezilla”? When you watch reality wedding shows, do the brides and grooms feel real to you? Please share your opinion in the comments.
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Debra Biagini
June 21, 2011
Thank you Preston. Living in Rome I have only been able to see this show a few times while on vacation in New York and I must say I was shocked. I do at least 70 weddings each year and have never had a bride act like those women do. I wouldn’t love this work as much as I do if I had to deal with people like that. Thank goodness that show is just to make some people laugh…..not me!!!
Debra
Angela
June 21, 2011
I have never watched the show but I know you have expressed your dissatisfaction a few times on your blog about it. Yes we do have a few bridezilla’s. You just never seem to be able to either do anything right or they are never satisfied. So far i have encountered only one and at the end of the wedding- the bride actually said to me ” I was a bridezilla- right” Of course I did not say anything and just smiled.
David M. Handy
June 21, 2011
Preston,
I agree with you and David, his show My Fair Wedding always seems to be the most real and the brides and grooms always are a deserving couple. I have been in the event industry for about ten years and to this day I have never had a client act like the brides on TV do, I am not sure I would know how to handle it! LOL…
Thanks for your BLOG, I always love ready your post!
DMH
Asian Fusion Weddings by Wedding by Wendy
June 21, 2011
Drama comes in all forms, shapes and sizes. Unfortunately it is sometimes a family member, and/or someone in the bridal party. I’ve had 2 brides erupt because of stress, but other than that – most brides don’t behave the way they are portrayed on television thankfully.
dews of keziah
June 21, 2011
I agree with you Sir PB. However, at the event company were I used to work I had experienced a few very ungrateful brides. With a particular bride, we did exactly what she wanted and more but yet she still wasn’t satisfied. There was a huge arguement between the bride and groom, that the brides mother screamed at her daughter to behave her self and stop being a brat! The bride made my ex boss cry at the reception, that the groom kept pleading with my ex boss to stop crying. Believe it, that was my first event. I don’t like bridal reality tv shows. They bore and annoy me. However, I make 2 exceptions, My Fair Wedding, and Whose Wedding is it anyway.
Stacey Strickler
June 22, 2011
Dear Preston,
I must first start off by saying that I LOVE your work…in a word…FABULOUS! Next I am in total agreement that there is no reality in reality programming, and specifically no reality in Bridzilla’s. I’ve been a planner for over 18 years, and I have never encountered that type of behavior. Sure, brides get emotional and overwhelmed, but to act downright mean and nasty, well that’s just an unfair portrayal of brides to be. I just had a conversation the other day about how bad that show is and how totally unrealistic it is. I even posted an article on my blog last year about how distasteful it is to glorify bad behavior. Thank you for this post!
Pam Archer
June 23, 2011
I have had one bride-zilla and one groom-zilla; thankfully not marrying each other! I tried to give her money back three times before the wedding, because she kept revealing her true, mean-spirited self. I felt sorry for the groom.
I don’t watch the negative shows. I did write a book about things to know before planning your wedding, and it includes a chapter on making sure you are marrying the right person!
Amy
June 23, 2011
I completely agree. I have dealt with very detail oriented, hands on brides and those that want nothing to do with it. I agree they are not bridezillas, they are under pressure from friends and family and very stressed out.
Sunflower wedding theme .
June 24, 2011
Hi Mr Preston i was trying my hardest find some ideas to design my wedding using my favorite flower the sunflower ; with out making it look cheesy or country . Can you please help .